Realigning Pins (NES Connector)

[Snatch1414]

I've just entered the world of bringing NES' back from the dead yesterday. I've cleaned everything fairly well but will probably go back again and be sure, but the one thing I'm not clear on is gently bending pins on the connector back into place. I've seen instructions saying to bend them back "up", but I'm not sure exactly what that means. Just literally bend them up if you're looking at the connector straight on? FWIW this connector offers no resistance when sliding a game in. The games just kind of sit there. Thanks

[Hobie-wan]

You bend them towards the opposite pin so that they'll be tighter when the board of the cart is slipped between them. You don't want them to touch, just be a little tighter.

http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/nes ... d_en.php#8

[Hatta]

Try boiling the connector before you physically bend the pins. Heating the metal will help it return to its original shape more gently than bending it back. Bend the pins only if all else fails.

Oh, and don't forget to snip pin 4 on the CIC.

[BoneSnapDeez]

What Hobie-wan said.

I use a little screwdriver from an eyeglasses repair kit.

[Ziggy]

Try boiling the connector before you physically bend the pins. Heating the metal will help it return to its original shape more gently than bending it back. Bend the pins only if all else fails.

Wouldn't heating them with a blow dryer or low temp heat gun be better than boiling them? I'm just thinking water, metal, corrosion.

[ApolloBoy]

Try boiling the connector before you physically bend the pins. Heating the metal will help it return to its original shape more gently than bending it back. Bend the pins only if all else fails.

Wouldn't heating them with a blow dryer or low temp heat gun be better than boiling them? I'm just thinking water, metal, corrosion.

Immersing them in boiling water actually cleans off the pins, it doesn't bend them back in place. You can prevent any corrosion issues by drying it off afterwards in an oven at low heat, followed by brushing it off with rubbing alcohol.